The new British motto

[Undesired Walrus]

So, it seems that Comrade Brown is to introduce a motto for the UK, the kind of thing that will appear on passports. As long as it is not introduced due the selection of Simon Cowell and brainless citizens, I think it is a great idea. A message that defines the multicultural Britain, the intellectual one, the Darwin one. In 5-6 words.

The US has 'One Nation Under God', but seeing how Britain is arguably the most atheist country in the world, I think any mention of the bearded man is a bad one.

Seriously: 'Respect For All Under The Flag'

Unseriously: 'End of Mankind? Bloody typical!'

[Brian Pears]

"Have a cup of tea"

[baron]

"Welcome foreigners, here's some money"

[geni]

Dieu et mon droit or Nemo Me Impune Lacessit

If we have to have something in English I would suggest aquireing "Live free or die"

[Gurdur]

"Still carpeting the loo"

[Southwind17]

"Mustn't grumble; can't complain"

[Gurdur]

"Still boiling the vegetables to death"

[Undesired Walrus]

'Oh Mrs Garrison!'

[Big Les]

Dieu et mon droit

Too goddy, too queeny.

...or Nemo Me Impune Lacessit...

Except they do these days. All the time. Just ask the Royal Navy.

What's Latin for "when are we going to have a fine day?".

[Beerina]

'Respect For All Under The Flag'

Of course, the devil is in the details of what "respect" means...

[kevsta]

The Orb and Alan Parker - Grey Skies (http://kevintoth.com/media/2007/07/The_Orb_And_Alan_Parker-Grey_Clouds.mp3)

[Macoy]

"Surveillance sets you free".

[WildCat]

"Traffic cameras on every street, security cameras on every corner"

eta: Damn you Macoy, beat me by seconds!

[Macoy]

"Traffic cameras on every street, security cameras on every corner"

eta: Damn you Macoy, beat me by seconds!

"Sorry" 'bout that!

[petra10]

"All for one and one for all"

"Big brother is watching"

"There's no places like home"

[Brown]

"Look, mate, I know a dead parrot when I see one."





And don't call me "Comrade."

[brodski]

"Remember 1812"

[Camillus]

"Illegitimi non carborundum"

[Undesired Walrus]

"Traffic cameras on every street, security cameras on every corner"

eta: Damn you Macoy, beat me by seconds!

Is Britain notorious for having tons of surveillance?

[brodski]

Is Britain notorious for having tons of surveillance?

Yes, its one of the popular myths here that you can't walk down any london street without havign your face on government controlled, co-oridanetd CCTV.

Peopel don't seem to beleive me when I point out that even though I live in inner London (zone 2), I need to go quite a long way from my house to appear on any CCTV, let alone this mythical big brother system.

[Undesired Walrus]

I was more asking about if it is appeared to be this way abroad, as I find nothing unusual about being snapped by a camera every few feet..

I live in zone 2 too, but I hedge my bets on the security camera on the bus (2 minutes from my place) being unoperational 50% of the time.:)

[brodski]

I find nothing unusual about being snapped by a camera every few feet.. I do, as it is not part of my everyday life (outside of work).


I live in zone 2 too, but I hedge my bets on the security camera on the bus (2 minutes from my place) being unoperational 50% of the time.:)
The cameras on the buses are not government controled, and if you wish to avoid them- just don't take the bus ;)

[Beerina]

Apparently the cameras provide no statistical advantage to finding crime suspects in areas where they are present. :eye-poppi

[brodski]

Apparently the cameras provide no statistical advantage to finding crime suspects in areas where they are present. :eye-poppi

Yup, they're pretty much a waste of money (much of it private), the image quality is crappy and they're rarley pointed the right way.
I'm not in favour of cameras, i'm just not paranoid about them.

[Damien Evans]

So, it seems that Comrade Brown is to introduce a motto for the UK, the kind of thing that will appear on passports. As long as it is not introduced due the selection of Simon Cowell and brainless citizens, I think it is a great idea. A message that defines the multicultural Britain, the intellectual one, the Darwin one. In 5-6 words.

The US has 'One Nation Under God', but seeing how Britain is arguably the most atheist country in the world, I think any mention of the bearded man is a bad one.

Seriously: 'Respect For All Under The Flag'

Unseriously: 'End of Mankind? Bloody typical!'

How is Britain Atheist? You have an official state religion.:confused:

[Undesired Walrus]

How is Britain Atheist? You have an official state religion.:confused:

Do we? Aren't you thinking of the Queen and co?

[Gurdur]

Posh Spice and Beckham, more like it.

[Damien Evans]

Do we? Aren't you thinking of the Queen and co?

Well she is the head of state and head of the Church of England...

[brodski]

Do we? Aren't you thinking of the Queen and co?
Yup, head of state is also head of church, the established church- and the fact that certain senior bishops automatically get seats in parliament, or the fact that state education requires a Christian component and so on.

[Damien Evans]

Yup, head of state is also head of church, the established church- and the fact that certain senior bishops automatically get seats in parliament, or the fact that state education requires a Christian component and so on.

what he said.

[Gurdur]

what he said.

Which only goes together with the fact that when all is said and done, Britain is pretty damned atheist.

[Damien Evans]

Which only goes together with the fact that when all is said and done, Britain is pretty damned atheist.

got any figures for that?

'cause when I see bishops in parliament, that doesn't exactly scream atheist to me.

[Gurdur]

got any figures for that?
Yes, I do. Got any figures to prove the opposite?

4 % of Brits go to church each Sunday. FOUR percent. Can't get much more atheist than that. Not even the Czechs or Slovaks come close to that figure, and they're the ones usually cited as being most secular.

Plus Brits drink Stella, which indicates they can't even get it up enough to make beer a religion.

'cause when I see bishops in parliament, that doesn't exactly scream atheist to me.

Probably because you're more interested in symbols and appearences than in reality.

[ChrisH]

How embarrassing... I'm glad I'm not renewing my passport. Having got rid of the Boy Blair we obviously now have another dipstick in our employ... the People's Dipstick?

And I don't drink Stella (wot that?) either...

[Damien Evans]

Yes, I do. Got any figures to prove the opposite?

4 % of Brits go to church each Sunday. FOUR percent. Can't get much more atheist than that. Not even the Czechs or Slovaks come close to that figure, and they're the ones usually cited as being most secular.

Plus Brits drink Stella, which indicates they can't even get it up enough to make beer a religion.



Probably because you're more interested in symbols and appearences than in reality.

No, it's because I live as far away from Britain as possible, and have never seen figures one way or the other. This 4% figure sounds interesting, do you have a source for it?

[zooterkin]

"Queue here"

or possibly something in Polish

[Undesired Walrus]

I think it was quite obvious I was talking about the overwhelming lack of the general population believing in God, that and the fact we have Darwin on our tenner and America has 'In God We Trust'.

And a little known man called Richard Dawkins.

[brodski]

I think it was quite obvious I was talking about the overwhelming lack of the general population believing in God, that and the fact we have Darwin on our tenner and America has 'In God We Trust'. And on the other side of the tenner we have the head of the Church of England. Eh current motto appearing on some British currency is “My God and My Right”- I could go on, we may be an atheist nation (more accurately apathetic agnostics by and large), but we are a Christian state and as we are talking about an official motto...

[ohp]

Land of the cynical, and home of the apathetic.

Well, it's probably true isn't it? I can't say I care if it is or not really.

[geni]

got any figures for that?

'cause when I see bishops in parliament, that doesn't exactly scream atheist to me.

Constitionaly britian is a christian country. De-facto day to day? not so much.

[corplinx]

"Sorry about that whole empire thing, Cheerio"

[Small Town Jesus]

Most people I know who aren't atheist tend to be of the "I don't believe in God but I think there's something" variety. Hence the lack of church going.

As for the motto:-
"Two World Wars and One World Cup"

[ZeeGerman]

"Mostly harmless!"

Zee

[TragicMonkey]

"Wot's all this, then?"

"EXTERMINATE! EXTERMINATE!"

"You are the weakest link. Goodbye."

[Thunder]

"God Save the Queen"?

[ohp]

Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast.

[Tsukasa Buddha]

"Property of J. K. Rowling"

[JonWhite]

"Luvely Jubbly" (seems to be fairly International nowadays)

"Any spare change for a cupp'a tea guv?" or "Big Issue?" (as heard at most tube stations)

"A house costs how much??" (personal moan)

[Brown]

In Canada, the coins say "D. G. Regina." I imagine that I could have a lot of fun with that, telling my buds in the states that Mr. Regina designed the coins and insisted that his name appear on every one, or some such nonsense.

Actually, "D. G. Regina" means "Queen by the Grace of God."

I actually find the motto on US currency, "In God We Trust," to be somewhat more reasonable than "D. G. Regina," because the latter implies that the Almighty has taken an official position of sorts on the issue of who shall be Queen. "In God We Trust," by contrast, has many interpretations, and on its face does not say that the Almighty does anything at all. One can, for example, apply a deistic interpretation, in which one trusts that the Almighty will not interfere with human affairs no matter how much praying or propitiation or beckoning goes on.

[dudalb]

Actually the Official Motto of the US is not "One Nation,Under God" but E Pluribus Unum (probably mispelled that) Out Of Many,One.
My Own Nomination for a Brit Motto:
"How About a Nice Cup Of Tea?".

[Undesired Walrus]

"I will try my upmost"

Comrade Brown's promise.

[ohp]

"Any spare change for a cupp'a tea guv?"

Now I must confess, I don't frequent the tube stations in London much, but do people say "guv" any more?

"Could ya spare me a downpayment on a small semi detatched house in Romford guv?"

[Undesired Walrus]

Now I must confess, I don't frequent the tube stations in London much, but do people say "guv" any more?

"Could ya spare me a downpayment on a small semi detatched house in Romford guv?"

The area I live, we all call each other 'boss', so your observation is a valid one to me.

Example: 'Cup of tea boss?'

Free London slang lesson free of change. I'd like a bit of change for a taxi to see my cancer-ridden mother and car-crash father though boss.

[Math Maniac]

From a childhood (in America) being raised by an English mother:

"Anything from an animal can be cooked in a pasty."

[JonWhite]

Now I must confess, I don't frequent the tube stations in London much, but do people say "guv" any more?

"Could ya spare me a downpayment on a small semi detatched house in Romford guv?"


Yeah, you're right. Just playing up the cap doffing, Oliver Twist stereotype for our brethren across the pond. :D

Should'a probably used "mate" instead for greater accuracy.

[Leif Roar]

"And now for something completely different."

[Architect]

Well she is the head of state and head of the Church of England...

(cough) That's only England ya Sassenach puddin' (cough)

[TheDoLittle]

What happened to the slogans:

"Yer, but no, but, yer, but no, but, yer, but no, but, yer..."

"Yeah, I know!"

"The only gay in the village."

???

[Architect]

I believe Alec, aka the First Minister, has decided that our national motto is "So Long, Farewell, Auf Wiedersehen, Goodbye" .... or possibly "We hate Jimmy Hill".

[Damien Evans]

(cough) That's only England ya Sassenach puddin' (cough)

good point.

[Oliver]

What about:
"The last one turns off the lights".

:confused:

[Ausmerican]

A motto should be memorable and remember your great minds.
"Above all, Don't Panic!"

[Dr Adequate]

So, it seems that Comrade Brown is to introduce a motto for the UK, the kind of thing that will appear on passports. As long as it is not introduced due the selection of Simon Cowell and brainless citizens, I think it is a great idea. And I think it'll suck like a black hole of pure condensed naffness.

[Zep]

I like this one: "Nous Aimons La Bière Chaude Faible"

[Darth Rotor]

Three suggestions

1. "Our upper lips aren't all that's stiff, love."

2. 'My nipples explode with pleasure!" (Python Reference)

3. "Muddling through since the Magna Carta"

DR

[Dr Adequate]

"Come And Have A Go If You Think You're Hard Enough."

[six7s]

'Nice Video, Shame about the Throng'

[Brown]

"France Stinks!"

"Ugliest Royal Family in the Free World"

"Remember Shakespeare; Never Mind Benny Hill"

"We Don't Need Any Stinking Dentists"

"Suck My Cornwall"

[Lord Muck oGentry]

" If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear. The sheet-sniffers are a valiant body of men and women, without whose efforts...[ knits flag: a liar couchant on a field argent surmounted by crossed pens charged with encre, vert]..."

[six7s]

Romanes eunt domus Romani ite Domum

[Mashuna]

I believe Alec, aka the First Minister, has decided that our national motto is "So Long, Farewell, Auf Wiedersehen, Goodbye" .... or possibly "We hate Jimmy Hill".

I think we can all get behind "We hate Jimmy Hill" as a motto. Even people who've never heard of him.

[Jaggy Bunnet]

Yup, head of state is also head of church, the established church

Only in England is there an established church. The head of state is not the head of the Church in Wales or the Church of Scotland (and I strongly suspect NI is the same).

- and the fact that certain senior bishops automatically get seats in parliament

Only English bishops get seats in the House of Lords

, or the fact that state education requires a Christian component and so on.

"syllabuses must be non-denominational… [and] not be designed to convert pupils or urge a particular religion or religious belief on pupils." - DfE circular (relevant to England & Wales).

[Jaggy Bunnet]

They don't like it up 'em.

[Mashuna]

"Come And Have A Go If You Think You're Hard Enough."

With the alternative, "You're going home in a *********** ambulance."

[Dr Adequate]

"I Can't Believe It's Not Belgium!"

[brodski]

Only in England is there an established church. The head of state is not the head of the Church in Wales or the Church of Scotland (and I strongly suspect NI is the same).



Only English bishops get seats in the House of Lords Yup, but the head of state is still a religious Figure, and the lords is still the upepr chamber for the whole of the UK. When the Church in Wales got independence from the CoE they lost they perks.



"syllabuses must be non-denominational… [and] not be designed to convert pupils or urge a particular religion or religious belief on pupils." - DfE circular (relevant to England & Wales). And yet state schools are requried to have a "collective act of predominantly Christian worship" every day.

[petra10]

Most people I know who aren't atheist tend to be of the "I don't believe in God but I think there's something" variety. Hence the lack of church going.

As for the motto:-
"Two World Wars and One World Cup"

I think you will find that Britain never won the world cup!

"Pick a windae your leaving"

[six7s]

'Smile! You're on CCTV Camera'

[Darat]

All your DNA belong to us!

[six7s]

We put the 'queue' in Thank You

[Small Town Jesus]

I think you will find that Britain never won the world cup!

"Pick a windae your leaving"

No, but it is always good to remind the Scots, Welsh and Northern Irish just who did. ;)

[mummymonkey]

Sorry

[shuize]

"Rum, buggery* and the lash.



*But here they don't execute you for it."

[ZENSMACK89]

I wanna be anarchy